Filter press and control mechanism therefor



April 1.1, 1944.

R. E. HARRIS FILTER PRESS AND CONTROL MECHANISM4 THEREFOR Filed Aug. 3l, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l IIN,

G INVENTOR.

\ for f'owna Me/S April 1l, 1944. R. E. HARRIS FILTER PRESS AND CONTROL MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Aug. 3l, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ii-'ia'..

PRESSURE CYL INDIE ken/RN CYLINDER Patented Apr. 11, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE FILTER PRESS AND CONTROL yMEEClfliiihlsli THEREFOR RoyEdward Harris, San Jose, Calif. yApplication August 31, 1940, Serial No. 354,952

l Claim.

The invention, in general, 'relates to means for recovering sugarvalues from culls aswell as vfrom Vcannery Waste and trimmings. VMore particularly, the invention relates to hydraulically controlled `ilter presses.

A number-of various types of filter presses have 'been developed heretofore for'adaptation lto `different arts and for effecting, in general, lthe extraction of liquids from `pulpy `masses or `from semi-solids. More than a majority of these prior lter presses have proven somewhat unsatisfactory in accomplishingtheir purpose in a minimum of time and with ta minimum of `operations fand labor. The present invention is directed towards overcoming certain disadvantageous features in filter press construction tand' operation, the invention being apart of a-complete process, including purification steps and refining, for the recovery ofsugar values from cannerywaste and trimmings; such process being more :fully disclosed in my co-pending application bea-ring :Serial No. 370,172. filed December 14, 1940 Vand entitled Process of producing natural `fruit juices and of eliminating cannery waste 'and 'which has issued as Patent JNO. 2,320,036, dated May 25, l194:3.

.A primary object -of my invention is `to provide an improved filter press affording the handling of :an increasedvolume Aof pulp and slurry in a minimum of time Witha minimum of operations and less labor.

Another object Vof the :invention .is to provide relatively simple .hydraulic mechanism in a lter press .for upositively exerting desired Vpressures as well .as for returning the press to initial condition rapidly and effectively for vreceiving additional material, all with the highest degree of safety 'to the operator.

.A :still further object of Vmy improvement is to provide a .filter press and .control mechanism therefor of Vthe indicated nature Vwhich nis additionally characterized by its simplicity of iconstruction and ease of installation.

.The foregoing .and other .objects are attained in a preferred embodiment -of my `invention Which .is illustrated :in the accompanying drawings. `It is to be understoodthat Iam not to be limited to the 'Drecise embodiment shown, `nor 4to the precise arrangementof elements, as my 1invention, 4as `defined in the appended claim, lcan be embodiedin a pluralityand variety of forms.

vRefer-ring to .thedrawings:

Figure 1 is atop plan view of apreferredfembodiment of the invention.

Figure2 is a side elevational view,;for"the-.most

part in section, of the preferred embodiment of the invention. `l

Figure 3 is a reduced, side elevational view of the embodiment shown in Figures `l and -2, with one side of the case removedto illustrate the construction. l

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the pipe circuit for the hydraulic control mechanism of the preferred embodiment of the invention."

Figure -5 is an end elevationalview, partly in section, illustrating a portion of Athe hydraulic control mechanism of theembodiment of 4Figures l to 3, inclusive.

Figure 6 is another elevational view o f the preferred embodiment, `partly `in section and `partly broken away for purposes of illustrating certain elements thereof. j

In its preferred form, -thejilter press and control mechanism therefor of my invention preferably comprises a yframe defini-ng an elongated chamber, a series of porous, lter bags movably suspended on said frame and depending into said chamber, a series of flexibly connected pressboards alternately arranged with respect to said bags and movably mounted on said frame vwithin said chamber, together vwith means for applying pressure to an end board of said series ofboards to compress all" of said bags between said boards, and means connected to one of said press boards for returning said bag and `said boards to their initial positions in one operation.

As particularly illustrated 'in Figures land V2 of the drawings, the preferred embodiment of my invention comprises a frame Il including alpair of sides I2 and I'3 connecting -a pair of ends I4 and I Y5, the frame defining an elongated chamber I6. On the inner surface of eachof the sides I2 and I3 of the fframe, I provide a track I1 which is substantially `co-extensive -with the 'length of the chamber I 6 and VI utilize the tracks I'l for movably suspending a `plurality or series of pressboards thereon. Preferably, the *suspension of each board on the tracks I1 is effected through the medium of rollers I9 which `are rotatably mounted on pins 21 carried by bifurcatedbr'ackets 22 .secured to opposite sides of each pressboard, as clearly depicted in Figure 6of the drawings. The suspensionof each press-board 'inthis manner not only affords movement of the Vboards longitudinally of the chamber t6, by virtue of rollers al@ riding ontracks I1., but `also pivotal or swinging movement about the pins 2| which are approximately located von the horizontal axis of each of the boards at ieach side thereof. This pivotal mounting of each ,press boardV I8 enables more effective distribution of applied pressure from the top of the filter bags downwardly to their bottoms, as hereinafter explained. In order to enhance the draining of expressed liquid to the bottom of the press, I preferably provide press-boards I `8 having i-luted side surfaces defining grooves for passing the liquid more rapidly.

The preferred embodiment of the invention also includes a seriesof lter bags 26 which are made of a suitable .porous fabric and which, las shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, are alternately disposed with respect to press boards |8, While I have depicted nine press boards and eight filter bags in the press illustrated, it is clear that these elements may be increased in the same ratio to the extent desired within space limitations. The arrangement of alternately disposed press boards and filter-bags provides a press board at each end of the chamber |6 of which one end board 21 is rigidly secured by meansv of suitable fastening elements to end I4 of" the frame, while the other end board 29A is flxedly secured to a follower or head 29 adjacent end l5 of the frame, vthe head` or follower 29 spanning chamber |6 and having side, channeled guides 3| thereon for slidable engagement with tracks l1. Asillustrated, each lter bag 26 is suspended from the-,top of lframe and across chamber I6 by means *of* a pairof bars 36 secured in the top of each-bag.- One of bars 36 is provided with a hooked end 31 defining a notch for receiving the end of 'the other-bar and thus serving to swing the bags open and shut. The bars 36, with the bags closed, are held tightly together by suitable clamps 38l to prevent overflow of material upon application of pressure.

In accordance with my invention, hydraulically controlled means are provided for applying pressure to the series of lter bags 26 to express liquid from thev material disposed therein, such means also serving to return the seriesof bags and press boards I8 to initial positions for successive lling of bags and compressing the same. In laddition to a pair of chainsj 48 flexibly connecting the series of press boards |8 together at opposite sides of the press, these means preferably include a pair of cylinders 4| and 42 mounted exteriorly of frame at opposite ends thereof; pistons 43 and 44 movably mounted in cylinders 4| and 42, respectively; together with a pair of cables 46 and 41 associated with cylinder 4| and a pair of cables 48 Vand 49 associated with the'cylinder 42. For convenience of description, cylinder 4| will be hereinafter termed the pressure cylinder, and the cylinder 42 will be termed the return cylinder. These means also include a source of fluid, such as a sump 5| which preferably contains oil, and a suitable pump 52 together with requisite valve controlled pipes and suitable pipe connections for withdrawing fluid from sump 5| and introducing the same into the cylinders 4| and 42 successively and recurrently, as desired, in back of the pistons 43 and 44 thereof, respectively; the pump 52 being driven by any suitable prime mover, s uch as an electric motor 53. As particularly illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, cables 46 and 41, which are associated with pressure cylinder 4|, are anchored to opposite sides of the follower or head 29, whilecables 48 and 49, which are associated with return cylinder 42, are also connected or anchored to opposite sides of the follower 29. More specifically, cable 46 extends from follower 29 towards cylinder 4| along the frame over a pulley 56 which conveniently is mounted on end i4 of the frame, and thence over a pulley 51 carried b y piston 43 of cylinder 4| to the opposite side of the frame where it is anchored to a lug 58 on end |4 of the frame. Similarly, cable 41 extends from follower or head 29 towards cylinder 4| over a pulley 59 mounted on end |4 of the frame, and thence over a pulley 6| carried by the piston 43 to the opposite side of the frame where it is anchored to a lug 62 on end |4 of the frame. As especially shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, the pulleys 51 and 6| are'conveniently mounted for rotation on a pin 63 supported across a pair of brackets 64 which are secured to and extend from the piston 43.

With reference to the cables 48 and 49 associated with the return cylinder 42, it will be observed that cable 48 extends from follower 29 along the frame towards the cylinder 42 over a pulley 66 mounted on the frame, and thence over a lower pulley 61 journaled in cross-arms 68 extending from cylinder 42, thence over a pulley 69 carried by the piston 44 of'cylinder 42 to the opposite side of the cylinder where it is anchored to a cross-bar 19 extending from the cylinder. Similarly, the cable 49 extends from fo'llower29 on the opposite side to cable 48 and overa pulley `1| mounted on the end of the frame, thence over a lower pulley 12 journaled on cross-arms 69 opposite to pulley 61, and thence over a pulley 13 carried by the cylinder piston 44 to the opposite `side of the cylinder where-it is anchored to crossbar 18 opposite to the point of anchorage of the cable 48. V.The mounting of pulleys 69 and`1-3 on piston 44 is similar to the mounting of pulleys 51 and 6| on'piston 43. Since cables 48 and 49 are `not required to do the same amount of work as the cables 46 and 41, the former can be and are of lighter construction,*or fewer strands, than vthe latter, as indicated by the comparative thicknesses of the two sets of cables in the accompanying drawings.

In the operation of the press, it is to be understood that one or more tanks of slurry or fruit pulp are supported on suitable platforms adjacent to and above'the press, and that a suitable swinging conduit is .connected to the outlets of the tanks, for filling the filter bags 26 successively, such tanks, valve controlled swingingconduit and platform not being shown as they are not, per se, a part of'my invention but conventional practice. After all of the bags 26 have been lled with the material from which it is desired to extract juices, each bag is closed by means of the bars 36 and clamps 38. The press boards |8, at the completion of the filling operaation, are in the positions indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings with no pressure applied to the intermediate filter bags. After the bags have been filled, fluid is pumped from sump 5| into pressure cylinder 4| in back of the piston 43 thereof, and thusmoving the piston out of the cylinder. In actual practice, where a press is employed having eight filter bags, I have found it desirable and advantageous to pump the fluid into the cylinder 4| under a pressure of approximately 400 pounds per square inch on the initial compressing stage-and then extend such pressure to approximately 600 pounds per square inch rapidly to complete the final squeezing of the bags and extract the greatest possible amount of juice therefrom. It will be appreciated that as the piston 43 of pressure cylinder 4| moves outwardly, and by virtue of the connections between the piston 43 and the head or follower 29 consisting of the cables 46 and 41, the follower 29 is drawn toward end 4 of the frame and the filter bags 'are compressed between the boards. It also will beappreciated that by virtue of the pivotal mounting of the press boards |8 between the two end boards l21 and 28, the intermediate boards willfollowthe contour of the bags and the applied vpressure will be distributed from the top of the bags'to the bottoms thereof. The expressed liquid from the filter bags drains into a receptacle or tank 9| at the bottom of chamber |5, the fluted surfaces of the press boards facilitating passage of liquid into the tank 8| that issues from. the sides of the bags. Suitable pumping equipment', not shown, is employed for transferring expressed liquidv from tank 8| to other tanks for purification thereofand further treatment in accordance with my above mentioned process.

After the completion of the pressing action, the fluid pressure upon piston 43 of cylinder 4| is relieved and the fluid returned to the sump Simultaneously, fluid is delivered by pump 52 to return cylinder 42 in back of its piston 44 to project the piston from the cylinder. This action effects the return of the press boards |8 and lter bags 26 to their initial positions by virtue not only of the chain connections between the press' boards but also by virtue of the cable connections 48 and 49 between the piston 44 and the follower 29. Since the work required to be done to return the elements to their initial positions is not as great as that required to compress the bags 26, the fluid pressure on piston 44 is far less than that applied to the piston 43 of the pressure cylinder. I have found that a fluid pressure in the neighborhood of 50 pounds per square inch is effective for this purpose. The foregoing described cycle is repeated again and again until the supply of material to be compressed is consumed, it being understood that in every instance of applying uid pressure to one cylinder to project its piston, the fluid pressure is relieved from the other cylinder to permit its piston to seat therein. It may be observed here that two presses can be arranged side by side with an intervening platform so that a single workman can ll rst one press and then the other while the compressing operation is being performed on the other.

In Figure 4 of the drawings, I have diagrammati-cally illustrated the piping and valve arrangement for the pressure control mechanism l of my improved filter press. 'Ihe pump 52 is designed for applying a maximum uid pressure of approximately 600 pounds per square inch, more or less, which is the pressure utilized on the nal compressing operation to express the greatest amount of liquid from the material placed in the lter bags 26. The fluid system includes a nrain and auxiliary valve associated with return cylinder 42, as well as a nal pressure valve associated with pressure cylinder 4|. To this end, I provide a pipe 86 leading from the sump 5| to the inlet of pump 52, and a series of pipes 81, 88, 90 and 9| leading from the pump outlet to the pressure cylinder 4|. 1A main valve 92 for pressure cylinder 4| is conveniently inserted in pipe 90 and an auxiliary valve 93 is inserted in a return pipe 94 leading from pressure cylinder 4| to the sump 5|. The system includes a by-pass 96 leading conveniently from pipe.90 to sump 5| and I provide a final pressure valve 98 therein, the latter being regulated to open whenever the pressure attains a value in excess of 400 pounds per square inch which is the pressure value employed on the initial compressing action for the press of the embodiment shown. A second by-pass 99 having a pressure relief valve I 00 therein leads from-the outlet of the pump back to sump 5|, the valve |00 `being regulated to open when the pressure in the system exceeds a value of 600 pounds per square inch. In addition to the foregoing, the fluid system includes a pipe |02 communicating with the outlet of pump 52 and a pipe |03 connected to pipe |02 and leading to return cylinder 42, the pipe |02 having a nrain valve I 04 therein for controlling fluid now to cylinder 42. The system further includes a return pipe |05 having an auxiliary valve I 01 therein and leading from pipe |02 back to the sump 5|. Moreover, a third by-pass |08 is provided leading from pipe |02 back tothe sump 5| through pipe 99, the by-pass having a pressure relief valve |09 therein. y

With reference to the foregoing connections, it will be observed that when it is desired to compress the filter bags, main pressure valve 92 in line is opened and valve 91 in by-pass 96 is also opened. At the same time auxiliary valve 93 in return pipe 94 is closed. Moreover, the main valve |04 in the line leading to return cylinder 42 is closed while auxiliary valve |01 in the return pipe |06 from cylinder 42 is opened. Starting of pump 52 will cause the flow of fluid from sump 5| to the pressure cylinder 4I and since the pressure relief valve 98 in by-pass 96 is regulated to open on pressures in excess of 400 pounds per square inch and close at 400, a pressure of 400 pounds per square inch is maintained in the line to cylinder 4|. Upon reaching a stage of operations where it is desired to step up the pressure to 600 pounds per square inch, or the capacity of the line, it is only necessary to close by-pass valve 91. If pressure builds up greater than 600 pounds, pressure relief valve |00 opens to relieve the pressure through by-pass 99 to the sump.

Upon the completion of compressing operations, and for returning the follower 29 and press boards I8 to initial positions for a re-ll, the operator need only close main valve 92 leading to pressure cylinder 4|, open valve 93 in return pipe 94, open the main valve |04 for delivering uid to the return cylinder 42 and close return valve |01 in return pipe |06. The relief valve |09 is regulated to open under fluid pressure value in excess of 50 pounds per square inch so that a pressure of the stated Value is maintained in the system when delivering uid to return cylinder 42. After refilling the filter bags, the foregoing operations are repeated for shifting the uid ow to pressure cylinder 4| after, of course, opening valve |01 and closing valve I 04. The system is so arranged with pressure relief valves that there is no likelihood of injury to workmen or damage to the press whatsoever.

It is to be understood that the appended claim is to be accorded a range of equivalents commensurate in scope with the advance made over the prior art.

I claim:

In a filter press including a frame, a plurality of flexible lter bags arranged in alternation with a plurality of rigid, slidably and pivotally mounted press-boards, and a movable follower for engaging an end press-board, mechanism for compressing said filter bags between said press-boards and for returning said bags and said press-boards to an initial position, said mechanism consisting of a rst cylinder supported adjacent one end of said frame, a piston movably mounted in said rst cylinder, a pair of pulleys mounted for rotation on saidpiston in juxtaposition, a first pair of cables trained over said pulleys, one of said cables being connected to one side of said frame and the other end of said one cable being connected to said follower on the opposite side of said frame, and one end of the other of said cables being connected to the other side of saidframe and the other end thereof being connected to the follower on the opposite side of said' frame, means for moving said piston out of said rst cylinder to draw said follower through the medium of said pair of cables and thereby compress said filter bags between said press-boards; movement of said follower effecting the tiltingvof said press-boards about their horizontal axes so that they follow the contour of said bags, and a second cylinder supported adjacent said frame at the opposite end to said first cylinder, a piston movably mounted in said second cylinder, a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted on said last mentioned piston in juxtaposition, a second pair of cables trained over said last mentioned pair of pulleys, one end of one of said cables of said second pair being anchored to a support on one side of said second cylinder and the other end thereof being connected to said follower on the opposite side of said frame, and one end of the otherfof said cables of said second pair being anchored to a support on the opposite side of said second cylinder and the other end of said last mentioned cable being connected to said follower on the other side of said frame; movement of said piston out of said second cylinder operating to draw said follower and said pressboards back to their initial positions through the medium of said last mentioned pair of cables.

ROY EDWARD HARRIS. 

